Segway

The next generation of young people will never completely get what a catastrophic flop Segways ended up becoming. You might not comprehend the problem if you were to examine them today. Yes, they are stupid. However, they resemble scooters. What's the big deal if they're amusing to ride? The context is crucial. People predicted that the Segway would radically alter the world when it first appeared. That is the height of boldness. And it was utterly incorrect.

The Segway was originally a two-wheeled scooter. After a lot of buildup, it was revealed on Good Morning America. Remember that "changing the world" was in people's minds even if they had no notion what it may be. Before they even understood what it was, Harvard Business School paid a $250,000 advance for a book about it. Steve Jobs compared it to the personal computer in terms of importance, while Jeff Bezos described it as revolutionary. Think about hearing that and then first seeing a Segway.

When the Segway was introduced on the program, Diane Sawyer famously remarked, "I'm tempted to say 'that's it?'" after viewing it for the first time. And almost everyone shared that sentiment. The business expected 10,000 sales per week. That never took place. The company sold 140,000 units by the time it halted production in 2020.

Several cities outlawed them after individuals became uncontrollable. The Paul Blart: Mall Cop ride was the most well-known of all time. Few people desired them because they cost $5000 and didn't actually cure any problems. People were content to travel by foot or automobile as usual. Nobody required a pricey, cumbersome, and potentially dangerous invention to span the divide.